Adjustable hitch for two-way plows or the like



Dec. 9, 1952 o. w. OERMAN 2,620,718

ADJUSTABLE HITCH FOR TWO-WAY FLOWS OR THE LIKE Original Filed Aug. 2,1944 2- SHEETSSHEET 1 FIG. I

INVENTOR.1. OREY W. OERMAN 0. W. OERMAN ADJUSTABLE HITCH FOR TWO-WAYFLOWS OR THE LIKE Dec; 9, 1952 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Original Filed Aug. 2,1944 OREY w. OERMAN MK "Wm Patented Dec. 9, 1952 ADJUSTABLE HITCH FORTWO-WAY PLOWS OR THE LIKE Orey W. Oerman, Moline, Ill., assignor toDeere & Company, Moline, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Originalapplication August 2, 1944, Serial No.

547,784. Divided and this application February 27, 1950, Serial No.146,515

4 Claims.

1 -..This application is a division of my co-pending application, SerialNo. 547,784, filed August 2, 1944, now U. S. Patent 2,575,527, issuedNovember 20, 1951.

The present invention relates generally to agricultural implements andmore particularly to two-way plows which are especially adapted for usewhere it is desired to throw all of the furrows in the same direction.

The object and general nature of the present invention is the provisionof a two-way plow, preferably of the two-bottom type in which the twoplowing units are arranged in side-by-side relation, in which new andimproved hitch mechanism is provided. More specifically, it is a featureof this invention to provide a hitch member having a generallyvertically adjustable portion, with new and improved means for lockingthe vertically adjustable portion of the hitch against verticaldisplacement.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of thefollowing detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which the preferred form of the invention hasbeen illustrated.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a two-way plow in whichthe principles of the present invention have been incorporated.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally long the line 2-2of Figure 1.

Referring now more particularly to Figure l, the reference numeral Iindicates in its entirety the frame of a two-way plow in which theadjustable hitch of the present invention has been incorporated. Theframe I includes generally longitudinally extending frame bars 2 and 3connected together at their forward ends by a curved or arcuate section4. Swingable from side to side of the frame I, generally along thearcuate section 4, is a hitch unit IIII that comprises a laterallyswingable member I03, preferably made up of a pair of vertically spacedbars I04, pivoted at its rear end to a generally central portion of theframe I. The bars I04 are disposed so as to lie on opposite sides of thearcuate frame section 4. The forward portion of the hitch unit IN isformed with a section I2I that is pivoted, as at I22, to the member I03.The forward end of the latter includes a vertical support I24 which hasits upper end turned forward, as at I225. The member I2I, or forwardsection of the hitch, includes a pair of vertical side plates I25 and 2I2! which at'their forward ends are connected to a tractor or otherpropelling means.

A vertical tubular section I35 is swiveled, as at I36, to the laterallyspaced plates I26 and I21 and t its upper end is interiorly threaded toreceive the lower end of a threaded crank screw adjusting rod I38. Thelatter extends upwardly through an opening in the support I24. -A collarforming a shoulder MI is fixed to the adjusting rod I38, and above thesupport I24 the crank screw adjusting rod I38 is provided with anOpening through which a bolt I43 extends. The bolt is disposed in a pairof slots I44 formed in the hub section I45 of a crank I46 that is inthis manner connected non-rotatably to the rod I38. ,By virtue of theslots I44, the hub section I45 has limited vertical movement withrespect to the rod I38, but whenever the crank I46 is rotated the rodI38 is likewise rotated in the tubular threaded member I35. Therefore,turning the crank I46 will raise or lower the front end of the hitchsection I2I relative to the rear section I03.

The uppermost threaded end of the rod I38 is provided with a wing nutI48 which when tightened serves to clamp the hub section I45 downagainst the support I24, drawing the collar I4I firmly up against theunderside of the sup port section I25. Thus, when the proper adjustmentof the front end of the hitch has been effected by turning the crankI46, tightening the wing nut I48 serves to maintain the crank I46 inposition and prevent displacement thereof. This clamping of the crankagainst the support has in addition another important function, namely,to positively clamp or lock the vertically pivoted hitch section I2Iagainst vertical displacement with respect to the other member I03 thatforms a part of the hitch WI. The latter, therefore, is a rigid part,rigidly connected with the frame I of the plow.

While I have shown and described above the preferred structure in whichthe principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is tobe understood that my invention is not to be limited to the particulardetails shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely differentmeans may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of myinvention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A hitch member for agricultural implements and the like, comprising apair of relatively movable parts, a bracket fixed to one part, a memberrotatably connected with the bracket and having a screw-threadedconnection with the other of said pairs of parts, a crank memberslidably but non-rotatably mounted on said rotatable memher for rotatingit to adjust said parts, and clamping means for shifting said crankmember on said rotatable member into engagement with said bracketforholding said crank member and said rotatable member against rotation.

2. A hitch member for agricultural implements spect to said crank,whereby rotation of the latter serves to rotate said rod, and clampingmeans for clamping said crank and rod firmly to said support for holdingthe rod in any position of adjustment.

4. In combination, a support, a rod-like member mounted for rotation insaid support, a collar fixed to said rod member at one side of said:-support, a crank having a hub section disposed and the like,comprising a pair of relatively mov- 10 about said rod at the other sideof said suppor able parts, a bracket fixed to one part, a memberrotatably connected With the bracket and having a screw-threadedconnection with the other of said pair of parts, a shoulder onsaidrotatable member at one side of said bracket, a crank memberslidably but non-rotatably mounted on said rotatable member at the otherside of said bracket for rotating said member so as to adjust saidparts, and means on said rotatable member and acting thereagainst forforcing said crank member against said bracket and clamping the latterbetween said'shoulder and said crank member.

.3. An agricultural implement comprising a part to be adjusted, asupport with respect to which said part is adjustable, a rod mounted forrotation with respect to said support and having a screw-threaded end, amember having a screwthreaded connection with said end of said rod andconnected with said implement part'to be adjusted, means carried by saidrodior preventing axial displacement of said rod with respect to saidsupport, whereby rotation of said rod serves to adjust said implementpart, a crank having a loose connection with said rod-accommodatingaxial movement 'ofthe latter with respect to said crank for preventingrotation of said rod with remeans connecting said hub section with saidrod for accommodating a limited amount of axial wmovement of said hubwith respect to said rod but preventing relative rotation therebetween,

15 whereby turning said crank will rotate said rod, and aclamping memberhaving a screw-threaded connection with the rod adjacent said hubWhereby, after said crank has rotated the rod into the desired positionof adjustment with respect to 20 said support, tightening said clampingmember on said rod will clamp the hub and said/collar firmly againstsaidisupport so as to preventrotation of said rod and said crank.

25 OREY' W. OERMAN.

REFERENCES orrsn The following references are of recordin the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,328,343 'Jacob Aug. 31,1943

